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The number of young people learning to drive has fallen again this year, with cost being a key factor in the 10-year trend.

According to the research undertaken by Honest John, there’s been around a 20 per cent drop in the number of under-25s taking the practical test over the past decade. 100,000 fewer 17-year-olds took the test this year compared with 2007.

This pattern varies by region, with East Sussex experiencing the biggest drop - 61 per cent fewer young people are taking their test there, compared with 10 years ago.

Insurance can cost a new driver several thousand pounds, depending on their address. Combined with the financial outlay associated with learning to drive in the first place - estimated to be an average of £1,500 - an increasing number of young people simply cannot afford the luxury of a licence.

While the driving test pass rate has crept up from 44 per cent to 47 per cent, the overall number of people taking the exam has dropped from 1.8 million to 1.5 million. It’s thought that young people account for the bulk of that change.

Honest John’s managing editor, Daniel Powell, said: “Put simply, young people are being priced out of learning to drive. Ten years ago, a typical 17-year-old would have booked a driving lesson as soon as they were legally able, but today most young people simply cannot afford to drive.”